AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Maybe I should rile up Georgia more often – it seemed to really work well for me, I laughed to myself.
Now it was Sunday afternoon, and I was sitting in first position on the grid, anxiously waiting for the race to start. Georgia had gotten P3 in qualifying, with Oscar Parker sitting in P2. Henri fortunately had to take a new engine, so he was starting at the back of the grid, which meant I had one less person to worry about.
As soon as the lights went out, I launched off the starting line like my life depended on it. The car felt incredible, but I knew better than to get my hopes up because, recently, they seemed to be constantly dashed by the team’s strategy.
As soon as lap twenty hit, I could see Georgia really gaining on the Rennen car behind me. I silently prayed that she wouldn’t pass him. I could keep Oscar back in the Rennen, but a Valkyrie behind me would be a different story. Georgia drove like she had a rocket ship underneath her. It was no surprise to me that after two more laps, Georgia had passed Oscar, and she was gunning for me next. Within another five laps, I could see her right on my rear, well within DRS range.
Neither of us had pitted, and I knew she wasn’t going to until I had, both teams trying to hold for as long as we could. By lap twenty-seven, Georgia had caught me on the straight, and she sailed on by. I swear, for just a second, I saw her wave to me.
Had I imagined that?My blood boiled just a bit, but I put my head down.
I could hear my race engineer come into my ear. “Georgia is going to pit. Box box.” Just as he said, I saw Georgia heading into the pits; moments later, both of us came out as positions P3 and P4. By lap forty, we had both regained positions P1 and P2.
As we approached lap forty, I saw Georgia’s car in front of me do a 360. Her car was still on the track and facing forward, but for a moment, her entire car had lost control, and I felt my heart stop.
How close was the Rennen behind me? What if he didn’t see her?
As quickly as Georgia had spun, she had started back up again. I could see her car in my mirrors, regaining speed, and Oscar Parker was quickly back behind her again.
I quickly hit the radio button. “All okay with Georgia?” I asked.
“Yup,” my engineer replied, probably a little confused as to why I was asking. “Head down, Luca, only thirteen laps to go.”
While I knew Georgia would be furious with her mistake, this had given me the opportunity I needed to get out in front. This was my time, and it was my race to lose. As Georgia had said earlier this weekend, I only owed this race win to myself. It was up to me to win it – and earn it.
As lap fifty came, I could see Georgia gaining on me again, with Oscar Parker quickly behind, a DRS train forming. I held on, defending every move Georgia put on me. As soon as I entered the final lap, I knew Georgia was about half a second behind me, trying to get around me. I held on tightly. Within a minute, I could see the checkered flag up above, and as a few more seconds passed, I had crossed the line, my car just barely in front of Georgia’s.
In that moment, it was as if the entire world had gone silent. Only a second later did my brain register the screaming in my ear.
“You did it!” I heard Francesco come on the line. “What a race!”
“Grazie to the team,” I called back out, and I could feel tears start to slowly trickle down my face. I had done it. I had managed to stave off Georgia and win my home Grand Prix.
I parked my car in spot one and looked to my right. There was Georgia in the P2 spot, on top of her car, doing her window washing dance as her engineers looked on, laughing with her. I knew she would be disappointed because that was her win that she lost purely on driver error, but still, P2 was an excellent result, one all the other drivers on the grid wished they had for themselves – all except for me.
I hopped out of the car and ran towards my family, who were waiting for me. I gave my father a particularly big hug, and he hugged me back with such force I could barely breathe. I ripped my racing helmet off and hugged and kissed my mother, noticing the tears in her eyes. As I turned toward the interview area, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Georgia was behind me, a huge smile on her face. Her eyes were glistening, and for once, her smile looked completely genuine.
Georgia hopped up into my arms, her arms wrapped around my neck. I could feel her warm breath on my neck as she leaned in and whispered, “Congratulations, Flash, a race well won.” I went to thank her, but she added, “Don’t get used to it; I’ll be back next week.” Georgia winked at me, a smirk on her lips. I went to put her down, but then I felt it – her lips against mine.
The kiss was nothing like yesterday. It was slow, messy, and passionate, probably too passionate for the cameras around me, but I didn’t care. I held onto her tighter as I kissed her back, forgetting for a moment that we were in public. Next to me, I heard Oliver whistle loudly as he and Edward came up to greet us.
I finally set Georgia down on the ground and whispered, “Until next time, Cara.”Georgia just chuckled as she walked towards the interview area; my eyes following her form as she walked on.
ChapterTen
REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD
Georgia
After the kiss with Luca, I marched myself over to the cool-down room, not ready to face what I had just done – or why I had done it. I mean, Lizzie told me I had to sell this, and what girlfriend wouldn’t kiss their boyfriend if they had just won their home race?That was the reason I kissed Luca.
It definitely wasn’t because, at that moment, Luca had the most kissable face I had ever seen. Or, because I felt so much joy for him at that moment, I just couldn’t help myself. Or because I was so pissed at myself for that mistake that a kiss from Luca was all I could think about to relieve my anger at myself.
Nope, not a single one ofthosereasons made any sense,I concluded.
Oscar Parker, the Rennen F1 driver who had taken P3, walked into the cool-down room shortly after and gave me a big hug. “What a race there, Georgie! I thought I might have had you at the end, but that defensive move in the second half of the last lap was brilliant.”
I chuckled at his comment and hugged him back. Oscar might be the most British driver I had ever met, but he was also one of the sweetest. We continued to chat quietly as we watched the replay on the TV screen. After another couple of minutes passed, and Luca finally came sauntering in, a huge smile on his face. Oscar and I both clapped for him while bowing at the same time, as if Luca were royalty and we were merely his servants. Although in Italy, Luca might as well have been royalty at that moment. The crowd’s cheers were louder than what I think the Italian royal family had once received.
